The POPS facility is now becoming a reality.  We will be finishing construction of the outdoor performance venue by this fall. Again, YOU are a huge reason this is happening and once again the Forward New Prague Foundation, through its POPS Advisory Committee and Fundraising Subcommittee, says thanks. Put June 14 on your calendars as we will celebrate POPS at The Broz Event Venue for an afternoon of music, thanks and camaraderie. POPS Gala III will be our group’s way of saying thanks. Through the financial and volunteer generosity of Darcey and Jay Schoenebeck, they are taking the lead in this afternoon event. The bands Eddie Shimote and Jaws and Little Chicago will be performing. More details soon! As the community awaits the completion, one item of great importance that has not been funded is the video/audio system that we intend to install to show movies and other programming for families throughout the spring/summer/fall seasons at POPS. We had originally budgeted $50,000 for this system, but this fell by the wayside this past fall when the cost of building the foundation for the facility — because of the very poor soils at City Center — caused us to spend well more than $100,000 extra on helical piers and other support necessary for the foundation. So, our fundraising committee of Shannon Brusseau, Tom Vanasek and Den Gardner are at it again! To get this $50,000 fundraising goal a firm head start, Sandy and Den Gardner are contributing $10,000, Simon and Sarah Kallal are contributing $5,000, as well as $5,000 from Jerry and Mary Walerius. So, we’re already 40% of the way towards reaching our goal of $50,000! Can you think about adding a contribution to this effort? AND you can provide this donation in early 2027 if you wish. POPS won’t officially open until the spring of 2027. You have made a difference before, and you can do it again. A gift of any size would be wonderful. And know that your $10 or $250 or $500 or $1,000 or $2,500 or $5,000 or… is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law through the Forward New Prague Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit. Thanks for any consideration. If you can make a contribution, make your check payable to: The Forward New Prague Foundation and send to: Forward New Prague Foundation, 305 Columbus Ave. South, New Prague, MN, 56071. Our theme for POPS continues: “It’s Time!”

Music at Memorial (formerly Music at the Broz), the free summer music concert series in New Prague, is set for its fifth year of performances, beginning on June 17. There are eight concerts this year, all on Wednesday nights.

The concert series is produced by the New Prague Arts Foundation. The foundation took ownership of the summer series when the New Prague Area Arts Council chose not to do it in 2025.

With the delays in constructing the POPS facility, this summer’s concerts will, again, be held in Memorial Park.

“Thanks to the graciousness of the city, we were able to book the shelter area by the two ball fields at Memorial Park by the playground,” Den Gardner, president of the New Prague Arts Foundation and organizer of this event, said. “We chose Wednesday nights so we wouldn’t interfere with youth baseball on Thursday nights. Community concert series in the summer are common for Wednesdays or Thursdays. We were lucky the city was able to work with us to get Wednesdays booked.”

Band Schedule (Wednesday nights):

• June 17 –Eddie Shimota Band (and possibly one or two members of the local band Jaws). Always a popular band. Genre: Polka/Country
• June 24 –Solid Gold. Classic Rock (I have talked to Wayne L and ALL of their music at this will be recognizable classic rock songs.)
• July 1 – David K Tribute Shows — NEW band for us this year. They do tribute covers of such various artists as: Roy Orbison/Elton/John/Buddy Holly/The Monkees, etc. Very entertaining music and show.
• July 8 – Wreckless. NEW band for us this year. This local band plays rock/pop/country music covers, new and old. Very popular in the area. Headed by Cary Havlicek of NP Music Institute. He’s been a great supporter of POPS and our foundation.
• July 15 – Holy Rocka Rollaz – NEW band for us this year. This band plays classics exclusively from the 1950s – Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, etc.
• July 22 — Jazz on the Prairie – Eden Prairie’s community big band. They performed here for first time last year. GREAT music from the big band era of the ‘40s.
• July 29 — Smisek Brothers – Local group with great harmonies.
• August 5 — Little Chicago – The summer concert series ends with the local band Little Chicago – playing rock/pop horn band songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Sponsors (so far – contact Den for information on sponsoring a concert):

• Brusseau Investments/Diversified Wealth Management
• Dr. Mike and Kay Wilcox
• Bruzek Funeral Home
• Gardner & Gardner Communications
• Bishop Investments of TrueJourney
• Minnwest Bank
• Pat Sullivan Group/Remax
• Traxler Wealth Management
• Media Partners: KCHK Radio & New Prague Times

All concerts are free to the public from 6:30 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m.

New this year: we are adding a half-hour “open act” with local groups performing prior to the featured band. The opening act group will perform from 6 p.m. to about 6:30 p.m.

The Solid Gold Band is a professional Twin Cities band and recording artist playing danceable classic rock/variety music for any occasion. In presenting the “Soul of Rock and Roll” show, we feature the great music of rock’s first four decades. The group’s current version represents one of Minnesota’s longest running active rock bands, and has been nominated to the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame.

Music at Memorial (formerly Music at the Broz), the free summer music concert series in New Prague, is set for its fifth year of performances, beginning on June 17. There are eight concerts this year, all on Wednesday nights.

The concert series is produced by the New Prague Arts Foundation. The foundation took ownership of the summer series when the New Prague Area Arts Council chose not to do it in 2025.

With the delays in constructing the POPS facility, this summer’s concerts will, again, be held in Memorial Park.

“Thanks to the graciousness of the city, we were able to book the shelter area by the two ball fields at Memorial Park by the playground,” Den Gardner, president of the New Prague Arts Foundation and organizer of this event, said. “We chose Wednesday nights so we wouldn’t interfere with youth baseball on Thursday nights. Community concert series in the summer are common for Wednesdays or Thursdays. We were lucky the city was able to work with us to get Wednesdays booked.”

Band Schedule (Wednesday nights):

• June 24 –Solid Gold. Classic Rock (I have talked to Wayne L and ALL of their music at this will be recognizable classic rock songs.)
• July 1 – David K Tribute Shows — NEW band for us this year. They do tribute covers of such various artists as: Roy Orbison/Elton/John/Buddy Holly/The Monkees, etc. Very entertaining music and show.
• July 8 – Wreckless. NEW band for us this year. This local band plays rock/pop/country music covers, new and old. Very popular in the area. Headed by Cary Havlicek of NP Music Institute. He’s been a great supporter of POPS and our foundation.
• July 15 – Holy Rocka Rollaz – NEW band for us this year. This band plays classics exclusively from the 1950s – Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, etc.
• July 22 — Jazz on the Prairie – Eden Prairie’s community big band. They performed here for first time last year. GREAT music from the big band era of the ‘40s.
• July 29 — Smisek Brothers – Local group with great harmonies.
• August 5 — Little Chicago – The summer concert series ends with the local band Little Chicago – playing rock/pop horn band songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Sponsors (so far – contact Den for information on sponsoring a concert):

• Brusseau Investments/Diversified Wealth Management
• Dr. Mike and Kay Wilcox
• Bruzek Funeral Home
• Gardner & Gardner Communications
• Bishop Investments of TrueJourney
• Minnwest Bank
• Pat Sullivan Group/Remax
• Traxler Wealth Management
• Media Partners: KCHK Radio & New Prague Times

All concerts are free to the public from 6:30 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m.

New this year: we are adding a half-hour “opening act” with local groups performing prior to the featured band. The opening act group will perform from 6 p.m. to about 6:30 p.m.

Music at Memorial (formerly Music at the Broz), the free summer music concert series in New Prague, is set for its fifth year of performances, beginning on June 17. There are eight concerts this year, all on Wednesday nights.

The concert series is produced by the New Prague Arts Foundation. The foundation took ownership of the summer series when the New Prague Area Arts Council chose not to do it in 2025.

With the delays in constructing the POPS facility, this summer’s concerts will, again, be held in Memorial Park.

“Thanks to the graciousness of the city, we were able to book the shelter area by the two ball fields at Memorial Park by the playground,” Den Gardner, president of the New Prague Arts Foundation and organizer of this event, said. “We chose Wednesday nights so we wouldn’t interfere with youth baseball on Thursday nights. Community concert series in the summer are common for Wednesdays or Thursdays. We were lucky the city was able to work with us to get Wednesdays booked.”

Band Schedule (Wednesday nights):

• July 1 – David K Tribute Shows — NEW band for us this year. They to tribute covers of such various artists as: Roy Orbison/Elton/John/Buddy Holly/The Monkees, etc. Very entertaining music and show.
• July 8 – Wreckless. NEW band for us this year. This local band plays rock/pop/country music covers, new and old. Very popular in the area. Headed by Cary Havlicek of NP Music Institute. He’s been a great supporter of POPS and our foundation.
• July 15 – Holy Rocka Rollaz – NEW band for us this year. This band plays classics exclusively from the 1950s – Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, etc.
• July 22 — Jazz on the Prairie – Eden Prairie’s community big band. Had for first time last year. GREAT music from the big band era of the ‘40s.
• July 29 — Smisek Brothers –
• August 5 — Little Chicago – The summer concert series ends with local band Little Chicago – playing rock/pop horn band songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Sponsors (so far – contact Den for information on sponsoring a concert):

• Brusseau Investments/Diversified Wealth Management
• Dr. Mike and Kay Wilcox
• Bruzek Funeral Home
• Gardner & Gardner Communications
• Bishop Investments of TrueJourney
• Minnwest Bank
• Pat Sullivan Group/Remax
• Traxler Wealth Management
• Media Partners: KCHK Radio & New Prague Times

All concerts are free to the public from 6:30 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m.

New this year: we are adding a half-hour “opening act” with local groups performing prior to the featured band. The opening act group will perform from 6 p.m. to about 6:30 p.m.

WRECKLESS ​is a variety band comprised of professional musicians with a shared passion for live performance. Our music spans the gap from classic and current rock and country. Since our inception in 2012, we have performed at night clubs, bars, private parties, county fairs, town festivals, city celebrations, and weddings.

Music at Memorial (formerly Music at the Broz), the free summer music concert series in New Prague, is set for its fifth year of performances, beginning on June 17. There are eight concerts this year, all on Wednesday nights.

The concert series is produced by the New Prague Arts Foundation. The foundation took ownership of the summer series when the New Prague Area Arts Council chose not to do it in 2025.

With the delays in constructing the POPS facility, this summer’s concerts will, again, be held in Memorial Park.

“Thanks to the graciousness of the city, we were able to book the shelter area by the two ball fields at Memorial Park by the playground,” Den Gardner, president of the New Prague Arts Foundation and organizer of this event, said. “We chose Wednesday nights so we wouldn’t interfere with youth baseball on Thursday nights. Community concert series in the summer are common for Wednesdays or Thursdays. We were lucky the city was able to work with us to get Wednesdays booked.”

Band Schedule (Wednesday nights):

• July 8 – Wreckless. NEW band for us this year. This local band plays rock/pop/country music covers, new and old. Very popular in the area. Headed by Cary Havlicek of NP Music Institute. He’s been a great supporter of POPS and our foundation.
• July 15 – Holy Rocka Rollaz – NEW band for us this year. This band plays classics exclusively from the 1950s – Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, etc.
• July 22 — Jazz on the Prairie – Eden Prairie’s community big band. They performed here for first time last year. GREAT music from the big band era of the ‘40s.
• July 29 — Smisek Brothers – Local group with great harmonies.
• August 5 — Little Chicago – The summer concert series ends with the local band Little Chicago – playing rock/pop horn band songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Sponsors (so far – contact Den for information on sponsoring a concert):

• Brusseau Investments/Diversified Wealth Management
• Dr. Mike and Kay Wilcox
• Bruzek Funeral Home
• Gardner & Gardner Communications
• Bishop Investments of TrueJourney
• Minnwest Bank
• Pat Sullivan Group/Remax
• Traxler Wealth Management
• Media Partners: KCHK Radio & New Prague Times

All concerts are free to the public from 6:30 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m.

New this year: we are adding a half-hour “opening act” with local groups performing prior to the featured band. The opening act group will perform from 6 p.m. to about 6:30 p.m.

Take an authentic trip back to the fantastic 50s with The Holy Rocka Rollaz!

If it’s the classic early rock ‘n’ roll and rockabilly of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash (and many more!) that you want, played just the way those legends played it…you have found your dream band! Minnesota’s own Holy Rocka Rollaz bring back the sound, the look, the memories and nostalgia of one of America’s most treasured eras. There’s nothing but PURE EARLY AMERICAN ROCK ‘n’ ROLL about them.

Music at Memorial (formerly Music at the Broz), the free summer music concert series in New Prague, is set for its fifth year of performances, beginning on June 17. There are eight concerts this year, all on Wednesday nights.

The concert series is produced by the New Prague Arts Foundation. The foundation took ownership of the summer series when the New Prague Area Arts Council chose not to do it in 2025.

With the delays in constructing the POPS facility, this summer’s concerts will, again, be held in Memorial Park.

“Thanks to the graciousness of the city, we were able to book the shelter area by the two ball fields at Memorial Park by the playground,” Den Gardner, president of the New Prague Arts Foundation and organizer of this event, said. “We chose Wednesday nights so we wouldn’t interfere with youth baseball on Thursday nights. Community concert series in the summer are common for Wednesdays or Thursdays. We were lucky the city was able to work with us to get Wednesdays booked.”

Band Schedule (Wednesday nights):

• July 15 – Holy Rocka Rollaz – NEW band for us this year. This band plays classics exclusively from the 1950s – Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, etc.
• July 22 — Jazz on the Prairie – Eden Prairie’s community big band. They performed here for first time last year. GREAT music from the big band era of the ‘40s.
• July 29 — Smisek Brothers – Local group with great harmonies.
• August 5 — Little Chicago – The summer concert series ends with the local band Little Chicago – playing rock/pop horn band songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Sponsors (so far – contact Den for information on sponsoring a concert):

• Brusseau Investments/Diversified Wealth Management
• Dr. Mike and Kay Wilcox
• Bruzek Funeral Home
• Gardner & Gardner Communications
• Bishop Investments of TrueJourney
• Minnwest Bank
• Pat Sullivan Group/Remax
• Traxler Wealth Management
• Media Partners: KCHK Radio & New Prague Times

All concerts are free to the public from 6:30 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m.

New this year: we are adding a half-hour “opening act” with local groups performing prior to the featured band. The opening act group will perform from 6 p.m. to about 6:30 p.m.

July 17 at New Prague Golf Club.

Theme this year is featuring female British Invasion artists – Petula Clark, Dusty Springfield, The Seekers, among others. Lisa Dolezal, Tim Price and others join Little Chicago for the concert.

This free event is sponsored by:

• Bruzek Funeral Home
• Gardner & Gardner Communications
• and a donation from a local women’s pickleball group

There will, again, be a silent auction.  Proceeds will go to the New Prague Arts Foundation.

Time to be announced.

Watch this website for more information as it becomes available.

We are a 20-piece Big Band ensemble, affiliated with the Eden Prairie Community Band. Many of our members play in both bands. We perform about 20 concerts per year throughout the twin cities with genres including the golden era of swing, the big band era of the 50’s, rock, and much more.

Music at Memorial (formerly Music at the Broz), the free summer music concert series in New Prague, is set for its fifth year of performances, beginning on June 17. There are eight concerts this year, all on Wednesday nights.

The concert series is produced by the New Prague Arts Foundation. The foundation took ownership of the summer series when the New Prague Area Arts Council chose not to do it in 2025.

With the delays in constructing the POPS facility, this summer’s concerts will, again, be held in Memorial Park.

“Thanks to the graciousness of the city, we were able to book the shelter area by the two ball fields at Memorial Park by the playground,” Den Gardner, president of the New Prague Arts Foundation and organizer of this event, said. “We chose Wednesday nights so we wouldn’t interfere with youth baseball on Thursday nights. Community concert series in the summer are common for Wednesdays or Thursdays. We were lucky the city was able to work with us to get Wednesdays booked.”

Band Schedule (Wednesday nights):

• July 22 — Jazz on the Prairie – Eden Prairie’s community big band. They performed here for first time last year. GREAT music from the big band era of the ‘40s.
• July 29 — Smisek Brothers – Local group with great harmonies.
• August 5 — Little Chicago – The summer concert series ends with the local band Little Chicago – playing rock/pop horn band songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Sponsors (so far – contact Den for information on sponsoring a concert):

• Brusseau Investments/Diversified Wealth Management
• Dr. Mike and Kay Wilcox
• Bruzek Funeral Home
• Gardner & Gardner Communications
• Bishop Investments of TrueJourney
• Minnwest Bank
• Pat Sullivan Group/Remax
• Traxler Wealth Management
• Media Partners: KCHK Radio & New Prague Times

All concerts are free to the public from 6:30 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m.

New this year: we are adding a half-hour “opening act” with local groups performing prior to the featured band. The opening act group will perform from 6 p.m. to about 6:30 p.m.

The Smisek Brothers are a family music group. They feature classic songs with beautiful harmonies.

Music at Memorial (formerly Music at the Broz), the free summer music concert series in New Prague, is set for its fifth year of performances, beginning on June 17. There are eight concerts this year, all on Wednesday nights.

The concert series is produced by the New Prague Arts Foundation. The foundation took ownership of the summer series when the New Prague Area Arts Council chose not to do it in 2025.

With the delays in constructing the POPS facility, this summer’s concerts will, again, be held in Memorial Park.

“Thanks to the graciousness of the city, we were able to book the shelter area by the two ball fields at Memorial Park by the playground,” Den Gardner, president of the New Prague Arts Foundation and organizer of this event, said. “We chose Wednesday nights so we wouldn’t interfere with youth baseball on Thursday nights. Community concert series in the summer are common for Wednesdays or Thursdays. We were lucky the city was able to work with us to get Wednesdays booked.”

Band Schedule (Wednesday nights):

• July 29 — Smisek Brothers – Local group with great harmonies.
• August 5 — Little Chicago – The summer concert series ends with the local band Little Chicago – playing rock/pop horn band songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Sponsors (so far – contact Den for information on sponsoring a concert):

• Brusseau Investments/Diversified Wealth Management
• Dr. Mike and Kay Wilcox
• Bruzek Funeral Home
• Gardner & Gardner Communications
• Bishop Investments of TrueJourney
• Minnwest Bank
• Pat Sullivan Group/Remax
• Traxler Wealth Management
• Media Partners: KCHK Radio & New Prague Times

All concerts are free to the public from 6:30 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m.

New this year: we are adding a half-hour “opening act” with local groups performing prior to the featured band. The opening act group will perform from 6 p.m. to about 6:30 p.m.

This Finnish band will perform a free concert on August 2 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at The Broz Event Venue

Ameriikan Poijat (Boys of America), Finnish American Brass Septet, was founded in 1990. They’ve been asked to play performances in some rather unusual settings, such as in an ice arena, in fishing boats on the Perhojoki river, on a raft in an abandoned mine, at Finnish border defense installations, at a McDonnell-Douglas military aircraft plant, in a Wisconsin cow pasture, on a Florida beach, at an instrument museum, in a barn, and in a one room school house. It’s not that they have exclusively sought out bizarre venues, but the a seven-piece group is very mobile, and the Finnish brass music we celebrate seems to have drawn us off the beaten path. Made up of Midwestern musicians, some of Finnish descent, we have been sharing the charm of the old Finnish brass band music and have also performed the newer compositions for septet that have proliferated recently. Our main inspiration has been from our brass playing colleagues and friends in Finland who have also been keeping the tradition alive and generously sharing their experience with us about this music. The Finnish brass septet repertoire is meaningful ethnic art, and also has an inherent musicality that is attractive to many listeners.

More recently Poijat has played in Philadelphia, Delaware, Texas, and Canada. We have also made regular appearances in Minnesota and Wisconsin. During this time a new repertoire has developed. With the passage of more than a decade since Ameriikan Poijat began to play together, the musical inflections and nuances that create their style have continued to change and develop. They have been presenting music in concerts, at ethnic festivals, in regional tours, at music conferences, recreating authentic social dance music along with concert repertoire from a bygone era. “Poijat” was formed in Northfield, Minnesota by Paul Niemistö and made its first concert tour to a Finnish ethnic festival in Florida the next spring, and then made its first trip to Finland in 1992 for the Finnish 75 anniversary. Poijat has returned Finland several time since, most recently help celebrate the Finnish Centennial in 2017.

During the 1980’s, Paul Niemistö made contact with many Finnish brass players, thereby discovering this relatively unknown musical tradition. Members of Ameriikan poijat are musicians and teachers are from greater Minnesota, a region where many Nordic settlers arrived, Finns especially in the north. Ameriikan poijat has developed programming around beautiful old concert music and dance arrangements, and has enjoyed wide popularity among Finnish American music lovers and festival goers, and to an increasingly wider audience.

Little Chicago is a horn cover band for hits of the 1960s and 1970s, based in New Prague, Minnesota. The band purposely plays about 10 gigs per year, mostly spring to fall, and has been performing in the Twin Cities since 1999.

The horn band plays pop/rock music. It features hits by such famous groups as Chicago, Blood, Sweat & Tears, The Grass Roots, the Union Gap, the Bee Gees, The Dave Clark Five, Dusty Springfield, and more.

Music at Memorial (formerly Music at the Broz), the free summer music concert series in New Prague, is set for its fifth year of performances, beginning on June 17. There are eight concerts this year, all on Wednesday nights.

The concert series is produced by the New Prague Arts Foundation. The foundation took ownership of the summer series when the New Prague Area Arts Council chose not to do it in 2025.

With the delays in constructing the POPS facility, this summer’s concerts will, again, be held in Memorial Park.

“Thanks to the graciousness of the city, we were able to book the shelter area by the two ball fields at Memorial Park by the playground,” Den Gardner, president of the New Prague Arts Foundation and organizer of this event, said. “We chose Wednesday nights so we wouldn’t interfere with youth baseball on Thursday nights. Community concert series in the summer are common for Wednesdays or Thursdays. We were lucky the city was able to work with us to get Wednesdays booked.”

Band Schedule (Wednesday nights):

• August 5 — Little Chicago – The summer concert series ends with the local band Little Chicago – playing rock/pop horn band songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Sponsors (so far – contact Den for information on sponsoring a concert):

• Brusseau Investments/Diversified Wealth Management
• Dr. Mike and Kay Wilcox
• Bruzek Funeral Home
• Gardner & Gardner Communications
• Bishop Investments of TrueJourney
• Minnwest Bank
• Pat Sullivan Group/Remax
• Traxler Wealth Management
• Media Partners: KCHK Radio & New Prague Times

All concerts are free to the public from 6:30 p.m. to approximately 8 p.m.

New this year: we are adding a half-hour “opening act” with local groups performing prior to the featured band. The opening act group will perform from 6 p.m. to about 6:30 p.m.